January 2009 Archives

As the country goes into recession even youngster's pocket money is being swiped away

SCOTLAND finally plunged into recession last week, and not even children's pocket money has survived the credit crunch.

Youngsters are being hit hard by their parents' money worries during the financial crisis, with pocket money slipping to its lowest rate in more than five years.

The average £6 per week allowance has been cut to £4 - the worst cut for youngsters since the last survey back in 2004.

Do we look at Rabbie Burns through rose tinted specs or if he were here today would he be vilified?

SCOTLAND will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of celebrated national bard Robert Burns this year with a series of events throughout the country.

Born in Ayrshire in 1759, Burns' image and poetry have become an important part of the Scottish brand which is exported across the globe to encourage folk to visit our bonnie banks.

But are we perhaps giving our famous poet an easy ride by choosing to look at him through rose tinted spectacles and ignoring some of the wilder discrepancies in his lifestyle? After all, modern day hellraisers like Amy Winehouse and Paul Gascoigne are vilified on a daily basis in the media.

In light of record holiday bookings we asked people will the doom and gloom stop their holiday plans?

TRADITIONALLY the first Monday in January is the day millions of fed up people book their summer holiday to jet off into the sun to escape the winter blues.

But has the credit crunch, spiraling unemployment and a collapsing pound grounded hopes and dreams of a holiday haven?

With a Euro almost the equivalent of s1, will holidays be spent more in the UK instead of the usual Spain, Italy and France?

Are the resolutions still intact? Have you begun exercising, started that healthier diet? Or not...

THE new year is a week old and many of you will already have broken your resolutions for 2009.

Vows to exercise regularly, eat and drink more healthily and attempt to get rid of annoying habits are the most common New Year's resolutions but they are the pledges most likely to fail even before the last turkey sandwich has been eaten.

So The Glaswegian took to the streets of Partick to find out about ordinary Glaswegians hopes and fears for the year ahead.